Crews respond to house fire at 50th & Hedges

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Firefighters responded to a house fire in east Kansas City Wednesday morning.

A call came out to authorities around 10:40 a.m. at a two-story home near 50th Street and Hedges Avenue.

Homeowner Leicester Ellison told FOX 4 he heard a popping noise coming from his back porch, and smelled smoke. He said by the time he discovered the fire, it was too late to attempt to extinguish it himself. He had to wake his wife from a morning nap so the two could get out of the house.

"It went up fast, quite fast," Ellison said.

He said firefighters might have been able to save his house, but didn't arrive in time because they went to the wrong home.

"They sent the firemen to the wrong address. They were up on top of the hill up there," Ellison said.

KCFD Assistant Chief James Garrett said his workers were on the ball, arriving in four minutes flat using the aid of a phone caller from the neighborhood. Garrett said the department's GPS system was down Wednesday morning.

Ellison said he and his wife have lived there for four years, and they plan to rebuild on the property.

Crews worked to keep the fire from spreading to neighboring houses. The Ellisons weren't injured in the fire, but one firefighter had to be taken to the hospital after falling down a flight of stairs, injuring his shoulder.